2009 dodge journey rt reviews

2009 Dodge Journey Review

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Edmunds' Expert Review

• Minivan-like interior conveniences, plenty of advanced entertainment and communications options, quiet highway ride.
• Some down-market interior trim, lackluster driving dynamics.

The 2009 Dodge Journey is an all-new midsize crossover SUV derived from the Avenger sedan and capable of seating up to seven passengers.

Edmunds says

The 2009 Dodge Journey is the brand's long-overdue pitch to buyers who want minivan conveniences without the minivan stigma. It's versatile and spacious, but it doesn't really stand out against more polished competitors.

Cost to Drive Cost to drive estimates for the 2009 Dodge Journey SE 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 4A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.55 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Vehicle overview.

A late arrival on the bustling midsize crossover SUV scene, the 2009 Dodge Journey serves as a timely stand-in for Chrysler's departed short-wheelbase minivans. The Journey is related to the Avenger and Chrysler Sebring midsize sedans, but thanks in part to a 4.9-inch-longer wheelbase, it offers ample room for up to seven occupants.

The Journey excels on the inside, where the influence of Chrysler's minivans is unmistakable. From the Flip 'n Stow storage compartment under the front passenger seat to the Chill Zone glovebox beverage cooler, the Journey is loaded with clever, well-conceived minivan-style conveniences. It can also be had with MyGIG, Chrysler's hard-drive-based navigation and entertainment system.

Pricing is one of the Journey's strengths, as even the base SE model is fairly well-equipped and slips in just beneath the $20,000 mark. Unfortunately, however, the standard four-cylinder engine and four-speed automatic transmission aren't quite up to the task of motivating the hefty SE's 3,800 pounds with anything close to authority. The uplevel SXT and R/T models fare a bit better, thanks to a more capable V6 engine and six-speed automatic, but there's little doubt that athletic prowess isn't the Journey's strong suit. Even the sport-styled R/T comes off less planted and certainly less fun to drive than some of its rivals.

Overall, the 2009 Dodge Journey gets the basics right -- it's attractive, quiet and reasonably spacious. But it falls a bit short in a few key areas. Its interior is less refined than those found in competitors like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Toyota RAV4, for instance. It's also less enjoyable to drive than the Mitsubishi Outlander and not as roomy as the Ford Taurus X. Still, the Journey's attractive pricing and interior amenities will likely make it worth a look.

Performance & mpg

The base-model Journey SE comes with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine rated for 173 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque. It drives the front wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission. Uplevel SXT and R/T trim levels employ a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 235 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque. It's matched to a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control. On these trim levels, buyers have a choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

The EPA gives an AWD Journey a 15 mpg city/22 mpg highway fuel economy estimate, about average for this segment.

Every 2009 Journey includes antilock disc brakes, traction control, rollover-sensing stability control, front-seat side airbags and side curtain airbags for all three rows. A rearview camera and hands-free communication system are optional, as are very handy built-in second-row child booster seats, a first in this segment.

The 2009 Journey is no lightweight, with even the base SE model tipping the scales at a hefty 3,800 pounds. The standard four-cylinder engine from the Avenger sedan, although reasonably frugal, is simply out of its league here. The V6 in the SXT and R/T models is decidedly more appropriate, returning decent acceleration and passing power.

On the open road, the Journey is tranquil enough, but it often feels insubstantial and fussy. Body roll, even in the sporty R/T model, is disconcerting at times. Standard four-wheel antilock disc brakes provide good stopping power, but more pedal feel would be appreciated.

Although the 2009 Dodge Journey offers somewhat less passenger and cargo space than such rivals as the Toyota Highlander, the overall impression is of a bright, reasonably spacious, straightforward family hauler. The Journey will accommodate as many as seven occupants in decent comfort; second- and third-row seats feature reclining backs, and the second-row seats also slide fore and aft, allowing parents to scoot small children closer to the front seats. Access to the third-row seats is a breeze, easily accomplished by older kids, with only an easy pull of a lever required to operate the second-row seats' tilt-and-slide mechanism. There's also obvious influence from Chrysler's minivans, as the Journey's interior is awash in cupholders, lidded storage bins and cubbyholes, including tubs beneath the second-row floor and an ingenious compartment beneath the front passenger seat. Maximum cargo capacity is 67.6 cubic feet, a bit less than what's available from other midsize crossovers.

2009 Dodge Journey models

A midsize crossover SUV, the 2009 Dodge Journey comes in SE, SXT and R/T trim levels. All models have seating for five or, with the optional 50/50-split folding third-row bench available on the SXT and R/T, seven.

The base SE comes with 16-inch steel wheels, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, air-conditioning, a six-speaker stereo with a six-disc CD/MP3 changer, and full power accessories. The midgrade SXT adds 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlamps, heated side mirrors, a trip computer, keyless entry, enhanced interior storage, stain-resistant cloth upholstery, a six-way power driver seat, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a 115-volt power outlet and satellite radio. Finally, the top-drawer R/T features 19-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated audio controls and a remote engine-start system.

Dodge bundles most of the Journey's optional features into packages, and one can get much of the upper trim levels' features as options for the lower trims. Other major options include a chrome appearance package, Bluetooth, auxiliary rear air-conditioning/heating, a rear-seat entertainment system and the MyGIG hard-drive-based navigation and entertainment system with a back-up camera.

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Consumer reviews, read what other owners think about the used 2009 dodge journey., trending topics in reviews.

• spaciousness
• ride quality
• driving experience
• infotainment system
• maintenance & parts
• reliability & manufacturing quality
• fuel efficiency
• transmission
• climate control
• handling & steering
• sound system
• wheels & tires
• acceleration
• electrical system
• steering wheel
• emission system
• cup holders
• off-roading

Most helpful consumer reviews

Journey to hell, 2009 dodge journey rt, do not buy, 2009 journey highlights.

• Tire Pressure Warning
• Stability Control

NHTSA Overall Rating

• Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Overall Not Rated Driver 5 / 5 Passenger 5 / 5
• Side Crash Rating Overall Not Rated
• Side Barrier Rating Overall Not Rated Driver 5 / 5 Passenger 5 / 5
• Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings Front Seat Not Rated Back Seat Not Rated
• Rollover Rollover 4 / 5 Dynamic Test Result No Tip Risk Of Rollover Not Rated

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2009 Dodge Journey First Drive

Dodge serves up a transition utility vehicle.

Dodge's recent car and car-based offerings—yes, including the hot new Challenger —have given us little hope that the brand would get a clue. But just as we started preparing to number Dodge's days, it has shown us a shiny new crossover called the Journey, ready to do battle in a crowded—but white-hot—market. And it enters with a decent amount of ammo.

Yet Another Crossover, Yet Another Spin

Since for all intents and purposes the Journey is yet another mid-size crossover with few truly unique qualities, we figure Dodge wanted to come up with another way to pitch it. So here it is: This, friends, is the vehicle for people whose lives are in "transition." No, not the wigs-and-heels kind of transition, but the one that occurs when guys have kids but don't want to shed their dignity by driving a frumpy minivan, or the kind that happens to couples whose kids are shedding them but who aren't ready to ditch the versatility they've became used to with their minivans (and who may be ready for their dignity to return).

How well will the Journey serve these, uh, transistites? Reasonably well, we think—and indeed, it should even please many families not finding themselves going through "the change," provided it's features they're looking for and not thrilling performance or standout styling.

We'll get to the performance thing in a bit, but for the record, we have no problem with the styling. In fact, the Journey is a relatively good-looking vehicle with a solid stance, an elegant tapered greenhouse, and a square-jawed mug. Basically, it appears to be a tall, stretched Avenger , which is more or less what it is. Sure, it breaks little ground, which will make causing a splash in the crowded crossover segment a challenge, but few folks in this segment are looking to make waves.

Action-Packed Features List

Besides, who wouldn't appreciate such handy features as theater-style seating, a window line low enough for children in back to see out, an optional emergency-size split third-row seat for carpool day (on SXT and R/T models), available rear-seat entertainment, and integrated booster-seat cushions in the second-row bench, which slides fore-and-aft nearly five inches?

Other nifty bits include a telescoping steering wheel (something all too rare among domestic offerings), LED interior lighting, Bluetooth connectivity, double-decker glove boxes with an air-conditioned upper section, and the optional voice-activated MyGIG infotainment system, which takes a bit of time to master but, once figured out, works pretty well. It's too bad the radio faceplate is located down at knee level, requiring the driver not only to take his or her eyes off the road but also to literally turn and look down to decipher the small graphics. Interestingly, navigation-equipped MyGIGs come with a separate screen at the top of the dash that displays the map in what is otherwise a covered storage bin.

But wait, there's more! The second-row seats slide and fold forward for third-row access in a one-handed operation, and the third-row seatbacks split, fold forward, or recline up to six degrees. The rear doors open nearly 90 degrees for ease of entry and loading, and there's a clever concealed storage area under the front-passenger seat cushion.

But the most unique aspect of the vehicle by far: the standard, removable underfloor cooler/storage bins that can hold a dozen cans of soda—on ice—without leaking. Younger transistites can fill them with baby toys, Cheerios, and baby bottles. Elders can fill them with gardening tools, golf balls, or even a cooked casserole (one of Chrysler's engineers swears his wife did exactly that over the holidays). Wigs and heels will also fit. We were sold even before we got in.

Subpar Materials

But, alas, once we did climb aboard, our enthusiasm slipped away as if someone had left our cake out in the rain. We bemoaned several quality-related and ergonomic missteps besides the radio's egregious location, including the shifter's equally weird placement at the leading edge of the armrest and A-pillars as thick as tree trunks.

The front head restraints angle too far forward. The instrument cowl has a fun retro style to it—think '80s-vintage LeBarons—but the lack of graining on the plastic stands out as much as the cheeky design.

Finally, like so many recent Chrysler products, there's a serious overreliance on hard, poorly cut plastics. To Dodge's credit, the Journey's interior is much better than that of the Avenger—at least in upper trim levels, thanks to a tasteful sprinkling of chrome. But that's not saying a whole lot, and in base form, the deletion of the brightwork creates an ambience about as cheerful as a prison cell fashioned from Tupperware.

Drives Like, Well, a Tall Avenger

Whereas the Avenger comes with a choice of three powertrain combos, the Journey uses just two of these. The base SE is offered only with the 173-hp, 2.4-liter inline-four mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. Although no featherweight at 3800 pounds, the SE is the lightest of all Journeys, and to its credit, the four-banger isn't as slow to accelerate as we expected, but based on the noise it made, it seemed none too pleased to be assigned such a task.

The mid-grade SXT and top-of-the-line R/T models come standard with the Avenger's best combo, a 235-hp V-6 paired with a six-speed automatic with manumatic control. Topped out, the R/T with all-wheel drive and a third-row seat—which was the only other version we got a chance to sample on our brief preview drive—adds more than 500 pounds to the SE's base weight, and thus it didn't feel dramatically quicker under full throttle (nor was it much quieter). The V-6 would have a much better time handling the vehicle's weight when full of cargo and/or passengers—and is the only model rated to tow a 3500-pound trailer (the SE can only pull 1000 pounds)—making the upgrade from the SE seem more than worth it. And to its credit, the fuel-economy penalty is only about 10-to-20 percent (19/25 for the SE compared with 16/23 for the front-wheel-drive V-6 and 15/22 for the all-wheel-drive V-6).

Dodge's planned drive involved gloriously scenic but agonizingly benign roads in state parks east of Las Vegas, offering us few—okay, absolutely zero—opportunities to discover the edge of the Journey's dynamic capabilities. Still, we kicked it up as much as we could and found that it transitions about as well as anyone in transition probably needs. Steering is true if not too crisp, even with the supposed "performance" steering of the R/T. Ditto the brakes—capable but unremarkable—and the ride quality mimics that of the car on which it is based, which is to say it is pretty comfortable, even with the R/T's performance suspension and 19-inch wheels.

We'd tell you more if we'd had a more thorough drive. Check back soon, as we plan to put the Journey through a full battery of tests once we get it off the leash and onto more challenging roads.

Little Price Advantage over Competitors

The Journey SE's $19,985 base price seems attractive—and is only a few hundred bucks more than the Avenger's—undercutting competitors such as the Hyundai Santa Fe and Toyota RAV4 by about a grand. However, add a few options, and the Journey's price rises quickly and steeply to more than $35,000 for an R/T with all-wheel drive and navigation. That's right up there with the Honda Pilot and Mazda CX-9 , both vehicles we'd much rather have in our driveways.

Dodge, Time for Your Transition

We hope that, like its intended customers, Dodge under new ownership goes through a transition of its own to include more products that are as relevant as the Journey. But we need to see better interior materials and more thrilling dynamics if we expect Dodge's best years to be ahead of it and not in the past.

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2009 Dodge Journey

• Crash Tests

The Car Connection Expert Review

• Snappy styling
• Wide range of features.
• Interior styling and materials
• Steering feel on all-wheel-drive models
• Pricey if you don't watch it.

features & specs

As a smaller crossover, the journey's a good alternative to the saturn vue and subaru forester, maybe even to a dodge grand caravan--just don't pile on the expensive options..

The 2009 Dodge Journey is a crossover vehicle, which means it marries a wagon body to available all-wheel drive, and has some sport-utility styling cues, though it’s largely based on car components. It also features gear you’d expect to find in the company’s Dodge Grand Caravan minivans.

The Journey comes in SE, SXT, and R/T trims; offers front- or all-wheel drive; can be ordered with either a 2.4-liter, 173-horsepower four-cylinder (SE versions) or a 3.5-liter, 235-hp V-6 (SXT and R/T models); and has seating for five or seven.

Dodge's first shot at the crossover market competes well with small and mid-size crossovers, from the Saturn Vue and Subaru Forester up to the Chevrolet Equinox, mainly on the strengths of its exterior styling, good ride quality, braking, and excellent blend of features and functionality.

But the Journey’s interior styling is below par, and its handling can be sluggish. And if you're shopping for the next larger class of crossovers--Highlander, Edge, Murano, and Pilot--the Journey will seem tighter and somewhat pricey when equipped with all the bling.

2009 Dodge Journey Styling

Good-looking on the outside, the 2009 dodge journey needs a styling intervention with its dated dash design..

The 2009 Dodge Journey’s exterior styling isn’t controversial, but reviewers across the Web came up with varying opinions on its interior.

The Detroit News says the Journey is relatively tame compared with some other Dodge vehicles: “its profile is less polarizing than other Dodge vehicles. Nondescript isn't a bad thing either.” Edmunds.com says that “the overall impression is of a bright, reasonably spacious, straightforward family hauler.”

Step inside, though, and the Journey’s interior takes its blows from a wide range of writers. Edmunds.com says “its interior is less refined than those found in competitors,” while TruckTrend half-praises it as “kind of nice.” They also liked the center stack design but didn’t care for the “brushed-chrome-look plastic on the SXT and SE.” In contrast, Road & Track says “the interior execution, which, while an improvement for Dodge, is still a far cry from being superb. The gauges have a 1980s look with square housings and glass partitions.” In either case, the Detroit News says, “the lines of sight are good, you sit higher than a car and controls are all easily and intuitively within reach,” though it notes the gearshift sits on the center console in a slightly awkward spot.

TheCarConnection.com’s editors think the exterior shape is a reasonably sleek combination of SUV and wagon. But the interior is far below the rich standard set by the Saturn Vue and the Honda CR-V, or even that of the Dodge Grand Caravan. Not only does the instrument package look inexpensive, it vaguely resembles the old Dodge Omni hatchback. And because it’s designed to be built in left- and right-hand drive, the gauges are set slightly askew from the horizon of the dash, all in the name of easier manufacturing. It’s a glaring error.

2009 Dodge Journey Performance

Don’t buy the 2009 dodge journey for its performance, though it has a comfortable ride..

It offers a 173-hp four-cylinder or a 253-hp V-6. But the 2009 Dodge Journey failed to impress reviewers from the major enthusiast and consumer car sites with either drivetrain.

Edmunds.com felt “the standard four-cylinder engine and four-speed automatic transmission aren't quite up to the task of motivating the hefty SE's 3,800 pounds with anything close to authority.” ConsumerGuide said the four-cylinder Journey “keeps up with urban traffic acceptably well,” though. The Detroit News compared it to the Little Engine That Could: "I think I can, I think I can make it up this hill."

Even with the available V-6 engine and six-speed automatic, the Journey’s performance doesn’t rate higher than average, reviewers felt. “The V-6 has decent power but isn't the quickest thing on the road,” Cars.com notes, “and fuel economy is a paltry 15 mpg city/22 mpg highway mileage with AWD (16/23 FWD with V-6).” However, both the Detroit News and ConsumerGuide thought the V-6 provided plenty of power; the News “never felt a need for more juice,” but ConsumerGuide said V-6 versions “were prone to overly abrupt downshifts during brisk acceleration.”

When it comes to handling and ride, the Journey fared a little better. It’s “tranquil enough,” Edmunds.com says, but its body roll in corners is “disconcerting at times.” Cars.com noted that the sport-tuned suspension and 19-inch wheels kept the ride motions damped, “but not body lean in corners. Forget pinpoint handling...” ConsumerGuide said that all versions of the 2009 Dodge Journey “filter out road imperfections with commendable ease,” but said that base SE models “are prone to float over larger dips and swells.” TruckTrend was alone in noting that the Journey can tow 3,500 pounds, not too much less than the much larger Dodge Grand Caravan minivan.

TheCarConnection.com’s editors agree with the comments on ride and handling, and add that the Journey’s steering comes in two flavors. On front-drive cars, it exhibits a little torque steer--a tugging motion under hard acceleration--but otherwise it’s reasonably well tuned, not sportscar-accurate but quick and light enough. The all-wheel-drive Journey requires more muscle and gives less steering feedback.

2009 Dodge Journey Comfort & Quality

The 2009 dodge journey accomplishes as many tasks inside as a saturn outlook--or microsoft outlook, for that matter--but can be noisy and plasticky..

The 2009 Dodge Journey has ample room that’s easy to use, but its interior materials and some switch placements were criticized in most of the reviews researched by TheCarConnection.com.

Though ConsumerGuide liked the Journey’s “generally handsome cabin decor,” it didn’t care for the “excessive use of hard plastics and unpadded materials.” It also took issue with the “thick steering wheel” that “partially blocks view to dials to the far left and right.” And the mainstream car Web site also thought that on Journeys with the base audio system, “all audio controls are set too low for easy access.”

On the other hand, every review TheCarConnection.com’s editors read complimented the Journey on its extreme functionality and use of space. AutoTrader noted its Tip 'N' Fold seats in the second row “provide quick access to the back with the turn of a lever,” and that “both second-row seats and the front passenger seat fold to form a flat load surface.” The Journey’s also available with storage in the front passenger seat, in the footwells of the second row. And the available third-row seat folds flat for expanded cargo room, just as it does in the Dodge Grand Caravan.

There are some hitches in the utility of the 2009 Dodge Journey. Cars.com notes that the third row is “strictly for little kids,” and that with the third-row seats raised, “there isn't a lot of room behind them.” The Web site also found it odd that the “liftgate is manual only,” while many crossovers offer a power liftgate. But The Detroit News gave kudos for the wide-opening rear doors: “anyone who has had to lift up a child and strap them into safety seat will appreciate the second-row doors that open out 90 degrees.”

TruckTrend found the Journey’s “noise, vibration, and harshness characteristics are good,” but thought the four-cylinder was rougher than most modern designs.

TheCarConnection.com’s editors loved the functionality of the Journey’s cubbies, bins, and cargo holds. But the seats felt flat for front and second-row passengers.

2009 Dodge Journey Safety

Not yet crash-tested, the 2009 dodge journey has all the safety gear you’d expect--and then some..

The 2009 Dodge Journey offers an extensive array of standard safety gear, easily among the best in its class.

Edmunds.com notes that the Journey comes standard with anti-lock brakes, stability control, and side and curtain airbags. A rearview camera and built-in second-row child seats are options, they report. The Detroit News adds that trailer-sway dampening and tire pressure monitoring are “refreshing” standard features.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has yet to crash-test a Journey, as does the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. However, the NHTSA has given the Journey a rollover rating of four stars, which means it stands an 18 percent chance of a rollover in a single-vehicle crash. TheCarConnection.com will revisit our safety rating for the Journey when crash-test results become available.

Used Dodge Journey for sale near

2009 dodge journey features, few crossovers come close to matching the 2009 dodge journey’s extensive list of features..

TheCarConnection.com’s editors read reviews of the 2009 Dodge Journey, and all the road tests gave the crossover the highest marks for its standard and optional features -- some of which are borrowed directly from the company’s Dodge Grand Caravan minivan.

The Journey “excels on the inside,” Edmunds.com reports. It’s “loaded with clever, well-conceived minivan-style conveniences,” such as a cooled glove box for sodas, all those storage bins in the floor and door panels, and an iPod holder in the center console.

The Journey’s standard equipment includes a tilt steering wheel; air conditioning; a six-CD changer; and power windows, locks, and mirrors. The SXT version adds a power driver seat, keyless entry, a 115-volt power outlet, and satellite radio. The top R/T edition gets 19-inch wheels, dual-zone climate control, leather upholstery, heated front seats, and remote start.

Major options, Cars.com adds, include Bluetooth; a rear air conditioner; a rear-seat entertainment system; and Chrysler’s MyGig navigation and entertainment system with a backup camera. It adds that the “third-row seat runs a stiff $1,220.” The available power outlet can be shut off by the driver, which The Detroit News calls a “convenience” that can protect curious children from shocks.

TheCarConnection.com’s editors agree that the Journey offers all the features and conveniences that a family would want. However, those options add up: you can price a Dodge Journey into the $35,000 stratosphere if you're a gadget freak. The sole feature missing seems to be the new SiriusTV system, which Chrysler is using as a come-on for its newly restyled minivans. The three-channel satellite television system will be offered in the Journey later this year.

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Dodge Journey

This midsized, car-based SUV was one of Chrysler's better offerings, but it is not without its flaws. The Journey has a versatile interior with a third-row seat and lots of clever storage areas. The cabin is quiet, handling is secure, and the powertrain is refined. Interior materials were better than those of many other concurrent Chrysler products. But the ride is unsettled, agility is lacking, and fuel economy isn't great.

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In most cases, automotive warranties are based on the vehicle identification number (VIN), and the warranty will be valid regardless of ownership. The dealership can tell you exactly how much warranty is left.

• 6-speed Automatic
• 4-speed Automatic
• 2.4-liter 4 (173 hp)
• 3.5-liter V6 (235 hp)

The 2011 reworking brought a much nicer interior and a better V6, but the lack of agility and still-mediocre fuel economy keep it out of the top ranks. Plus it was more expensive than many better rivals. Poor IIHS small overlap crash-test results and below average owner satisfaction add to the long list of demerits. Three row seating became standard for 2018.  Ultimately, we think you'd be better served looking at something else. The V6 engine and all-wheel drive were dropped in 2020 and the Journey finally came to an end.

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2009 Dodge Journey

# 25 out of 28 in 2009 affordable midsize suvs.

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$ 6,224 - 7,963

Avg Price Paid

$ 20,925 - 29,335

Original MSRP

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2009 Dodge Journey Review

Other Years:

U.S. News Rating

Although the Dodge Journey was new for 2009, reviewers were unsatisfield with the base engine’s performance and the crossover’s cheap-feeling interior. They appreciated the Journey's spacious cabin and good fuel economy, however.

Roomy cabin

Good fuel economy from base engine

Cheap-feeling interior

Sluggish base engine

What's New for 2009

New model for 2009

Features and Specs

15-19 City / 21-25 Hwy

173 - 235 horsepower

Dodge Journey Rankings

The 2009 Dodge Journey's #25 ranking is based on its score within the 2009 Affordable Midsize SUVs category. Currently the Dodge Journey has a score of 7.3 out of 10, which is based on our evaluation of 45 pieces of research and data elements using various sources .

• # 5 in 2009 Affordable SUVs with 3 Rows
• # 25 in 2009 Affordable Midsize SUVs
• # 28 in 2009 Affordable Crossover SUVs
• # 58 in Used SUVs with 3 Rows under $15K
• # 106 in Used Crossover SUVs under $10K
• # 173 in Used Midsize SUVs under $20K
• Critics' Rating 7.9
• Performance 7.0
• Total Cost of Ownership 9.3
• Interior 7.3

Where This Vehicle Ranks

2009 Saturn Outlook

$6,521 - $7,762 AVG PRICE PAID

2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

$10,108 - $13,090 AVG PRICE PAID

2009 Toyota Highlander

$8,040 - $12,084 AVG PRICE PAID

2009 Toyota Venza

$7,847 - $10,319 AVG PRICE PAID

2009 Ford Edge

$7,006 - $8,791 AVG PRICE PAID

$6,224 - $7,963 AVG PRICE PAID

2009 Journey Photos

2009 Dodge Journey Overview

The 2009 Journey was Dodge’s first attempt at a crossover, and when it was new, test drivers said Dodge got a few things right. They thought the SUV’s interior was roomy and pleasant, with lots of family-friendly features. They also praised the base four-cylinder engine for getting good gas mileage. However, the available V6 engine has a big appetite at the pump, and all-wheel drive isn’t available with the base engine. Additionally, the available third-row seats aren’t very comfortable. Reviewers also wrote that the Journey’s interior felt cheap and low-quality when compared with most other 2009 compact SUVs. Overall, the Journey isn’t a bad crossover for families, but rivals offer better performance.

The base Dodge Journey comes with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive, but was available with a more-powerful 3.5-liter V6 paired with either front- or all-wheel drive. The base Journey SE is fairly well-equipped, with seating for five, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel and a six-speaker, six-disc CD audio system with an auxiliary input jack. Higher SXT and R/T trims offer an available third row, and can come with more upscale features like a six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather-trimmed seats and a universal garage door opener.

See the full 2009 Dodge Journey specs »

Other Cars to Consider

If you’re let down by the Journey’s performance and can make do without a third-row seat, consider the 2009 Mazda CX-7 . Reviewers agreed that the CX-7 is one of the best-handling SUVs in its class, noting that the available turbocharged four-cylinder engine makes the CX-7 particularly fun to drive. The CX-7’s safety scores aren’t as impressive as the Journey’s.

The 2009 Ford Escape outshines the Journey with better performance and good fuel economy. Like the CX-7, the Escape won’t meet your needs if you’re considering the Journey for its available third row. However, the Escape comes close to matching the Journey’s safety score.

Compare the Journey to the CX-7 and Escape »

Other Years

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Journey Shoppers Should Also Consider

# 1 in 2009 Affordable Midsize SUVs

# 2 in 2009 Affordable Midsize SUVs

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2009 Dodge Journey review: 2009 Dodge Journey

2009 dodge journey.

Photo gallery: 2009 Dodge Journey R/T AWD

The Bottom Line

Crossover vehicles are all the rage. There is nary a midsize sedan on the market that isn't in line to be redesigned as a small wagon or SUV loaded with family-friendly options and sold as a minivan substitute. Into this fray comes the 2009 Dodge Journey R/T AWD, riding on a stretched Avenger platform and squeezing a third row of seats into the bargain.

So how does Chrysler, inventor and ongoing proponent of the minivan, fare in its effort to de-minivan the minivan? A lot about the Journey is good, especially the available interior electronics. It's available with an onboard 30GB hard drive for navigation and the capability to rip music from CDs, or copy music from MP3 players and portable-storage devices via USB. Chrysler's experience with maximizing seating and storage capabilities is certainly on display in the Journey. General reaction to the styling from both the auto show circuit and our experience on the street seems to be positive; however, especially in the brightest colors, we found aspects of the exterior garish.

To get the most powerful engine and outfit the interior with the go-to gizmos gets to be expensive. Build quality, refinement, and interior materials don't convincingly match a fully loaded Journey's sticker price. Dodge also touts the Journey as offering best-in-class fuel economy (for the base engine package) but our V-6 equipped tester displayed some dismal average gas mileage after our week with the car. Frustratingly, a two-liter diesel engine mated to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission will be available on the Journey as sold in Europe, but not in North America.

Test the tech: USB me At the heart of the Journey's $2,200 Entertainment Group II package is the MyGig multimedia system, which lets you store music files and pictures on its onboard 30GB hard drive. We've seen a couple of such systems before (notably in the Mitsubishi Lancer GTS and an earlier 20GB MyGig in the Dodge Grand Caravan SXT ), but this time we decided to focus on the USB connection and its versatility to test the tech. We gathered up a myriad of devices and their USB cords from around the office and spent a lunch break seeing what MyGig liked and what it just plain ignored.

As CNET's Wayne Cunningham discovered when trying to transfer photos from his digital camera to the Caravan's MyGig hard drive, the system isn't keen to recognize devices that generally come with software needed to connect them to PCs. We plugged our Canon PowerShot SD700 IS into the USB port to no effect. However, all was not lost, as we had a handy SanDisk SD+USB card in the camera. When we removed the card from the camera, flipped it open to expose the USB connector and connected it to the car, the MyGig recognized it immediately, and we saved a large Journey glamour shot onto the hard drive very rapidly.

Still optimistic, we thought transferring a picture off our phone via USB might work, since connecting our Sony Ericsson k790a to our laptop this way requires no extra software. Again, however, neither the phone nor the MyGig reacted to being connected, and the same went for the Palm Treo that we also tried to connect.

Although the MyGig system promised iPod integration, it didn't work with our older generation Nano.

Things went a little better on the music front, although not totally satisfactory. According to the owner's manual in our car, which did not cover the optional navigation system, an iPod connected via USB would be fully controllable through the car's stereo. However, the iPod Nano we connected would only transfer files to the hard drive, not actually play music.

We weren't able to determine how to specify which tracks to copy, so we ended up sitting through the transfer of an entire playlist just to see what it was we'd "selected." (To whomever drives this Journey next, enjoy the series of French language lessons we left on the hard drive.) All that said, a lot of MP3 data made it onto the hard drive in a reasonable amount of time. To play music off the iPod, we had to hook it up through the auxiliary input jack as you would any other player, which was a letdown given the manual's promises.

The best way to get data onto the MyGig's drive is via a thumbdrive or similar portable-storage device. The system finds music and photos on such devices quickly, there's no confusion over what you're copying, and transfers are very quick.

In the cabin Taken as a whole, the interior of the 2009 Dodge Journey nicely encapsulates the two sides of the Journey's design: electronic highs temper the plasticky lows. As should be clear by now, we dig MyGig. The navigation system bundled with MyGig is similarly impressive, with a supercrisp seven-inch LCD recessed in a hooded binnacle atop the center stack showing beautifully rendered maps.

Rendering speeds are fast, as expected from a hard drive-based system, and the package includes a year's subscription to the Sirius satellite traffic service to go with the standard year of Sirius radio service . Traffic hot spots show as color-coded stripes along the roads on the maps, and a list of local alerts can be called up quickly from the main navigation menu.

Programming routes is intuitive enough through the main knob-button control, with predictive entry narrowed by the destination city. We would prefer an OK button that isn't also a directional controller, but found ourselves happier with this example than most. The main navigation screen switches to the rear-camera view when backing up, albeit without any sort of onscreen distance or direction indicators.

Call quality is good with the UConnect Bluetooth cell phone integration option.

UConnect hands-free Bluetooth cell phone connectivity is part of the Convenience Group II package ($695) and proved very easy to use with our phone. Callers reported no trouble hearing us and, thanks to the handy capability to crank up phone sound with the main volume controls while on a call or in the UConnect menus, we were able to hear the callers clearly. Even with the V-6's mild rumble, the cabin of the Journey is relatively quiet.

The good news continues in the second row of seats, where our test car afforded occupants a swing-down eight-inch video screen with a wireless remote and two pairs of two-channel wireless headphones. DVDs for this system play from the main in-dash six-disc changer, so a CD and a movie can't be played simultaneously; however, given the hard drive, aux-in, and various radio sources available, it seems less of an issue than in some other cars we've seen with this limitation.

One interesting option is the cooled console area, which can hold a couple of cans of soda.

The seating configuration in our test car was simple and flexible, thanks to the $1,220 option with a split-folding third row of seats, a 40/60 split second row with a special tilt-and-slide feature for third-row access, and three-zone climate controls to keep everyone comfortable. The second-row seats also offer a booster feature that raises the seat cushion a few inches for better child-seat placement. Interior storage is another strong suit, with underfloor storage bins in the second row and rear cargo area, flip-forward access to a cubby under the passenger seat cushion, a very deep armrest bin, and even an air conditioned upper glove compartment with a rubber insert to hold two 12-ounce cans.

So where do things inside the Journey turn sour? Mostly it's in the feel, some control layouts, and our concerns about the durability of the vehicle. Materials, never a Chrysler forte, are cold and hard in the Journey, even with the R/T trim level's standard two-tone leather seats. The radio and navigation buttons are not tactile feeling, seem loose, and are mounted low and away from the main screen. The removable liners of the floor storage bins feel flimsy.

Under the hood Our Journey was fitted with the 3.5-liter V-6 and six-speed automatic transmission. Power from the engine is best described as adequate, although the transmission is adept at mining what power there is and can be manually shifted with the autostick .

The six-speed automatic includes a manual shift feature.

We can safely say that the lesser powertrain packages would have a rough time getting the Journey under way, but as potential buyers we'd have to consider them because the V-6 proved surprisingly thirsty during our time with the car. We did the majority of our driving in San Francisco during the week that we had the Journey, with a few short highway blasts to gauge road feel at speed, so our particular real-world use was certainly not conducive to good mileage. The EPA ratings for the AWD V-6 Journey are 15 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. Emissions ratings for the Journey have not been published as of this review.

Overall, the driving feel of the Journey is pleasantly carlike, even if take off isn't exactly rapid. However, its all-wheel-drive system with standard stability control makes it easy to maneuver the Journey in traffic and around corners. Its suspension is independent at all four corners, and road vibrations are absorbed well, with the chassis feeling solid and quiet.

In sum Market circumstances compelled Dodge to follow trends and offer what might be considered a neutered or compromised version of a vehicle style they pioneered and continue to innovate, refine, and succeed in selling. The result is they've produced a decent repackaging of their formula which they hope will satisfy buyers in the global market.

At $27,670 plus an additional $625 destination charge, the Journey R/T AWD is a reasonable value proposition for a seven-passenger crossover with average standard equipment. While our fully loaded test car came in at $35,375, you can get the price down by leaving off one or two options. We would keep the $2,200 Entertainment Group II, which includes MyGig and navigation, but reconsider the $825 rear seat entertainment and $1,220 split folding rear seats packages, bringing the price closer to $30,000. However, even $35,000 isn't bad when compared with three-row SUVs, such as a 2008 Toyota Highlander that, when loaded, pushes $40,000.

Score Breakdown

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• 2009 Dodge Journey

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starting MSRP

Base trim shown

Combined MPG

Seating capacity

View all  2009 Dodge Journey specs .

• Stylish shape
• Standard three-row side curtain airbags
• Standard stability system
• Available remote start
• Available diesel engine not slated for U.S.
• AWD only available with 3.5-liter V-6

Starting msrp listed lowest to highest price

Wondering which trim is right for you?

Our 2009 Dodge Journey trim comparison will help you decide.

Notable features

• All-new crossover SUV
• Seating for five or seven
• Four-cylinder or V-6
• Available integrated booster seats

2009 Dodge Journey review: Our expert's take

By David Thomas

Dodge’s 2009 Journey is a bizarre SUV. There’s nothing wrong with it really. It’s large, affordable and comes in an array of trim levels and prices, along with a choice of four- and six-cylinder engines and either front- or all-wheel drive. It can also be equipped with an optional third row of seats.

None of that is the problem. What bothers me is where the Journey fits in the current automotive landscape. When equipped with a V-6 engine and third row, it goes head-to-head with the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot, both newly redesigned models with solid fan bases and proven reliability. Take that third row out and it has to fight off the Ford Edge and Hyundai Santa Fe. Stick with the base four-cylinder engine and the Journey’s price still beats competitors — like the Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue — even though they’re much smaller SUVs.

That’s a lot of ground to cover for one vehicle, and while the Journey can’t win outright in each enemy territory, it proves to be a good value in all of them.

Crossover-ness The biggest surprise about the Journey is that it’s big. At 192.4 inches, the Journey is longer than the Toyota Highlander, which comes standard with three rows of seats. To get three rows in the Journey you have to move to the mid-level SXT trim, which comes with a V-6 engine, and then add a $995 third-row seating package, bringing the cost to $23,855. The V-6 powered Highlander starts at $27,300.

I’m not saying the Highlander isn’t actually worth the additional $3,500, I’m saying you can get virtually the same utility and a V-6 engine for a much lower price. There really hasn’t been a three-row crossover this big for this little money before.

Drop the third row and the SXT’s price, $22,360, comes in below the $22,740 you’ll pay for the aging Chevy Equinox or $25,735 for the Ford Edge. Because the Journey is so big, it easily beats both on cargo room behind the second row.

While I was impressed with the V-6 engine in my AWD R/T tester, I wonder if the base four-cylinder (offered only with front-wheel drive) will be capable enough to haul such a big vehicle. I think many shoppers will gravitate to the sub-$20,000, bargain-basement crossover, and they might get a different driving experience than the one I had.

Looks Four recent major product launches for Dodge — the Avenger, Nitro, Caliber and Charger — have had a very in-your-face look that has defined the brand, for better or worse. Conventional thinking in the design realm is “love it or hate it” is better than middle of the road. The Journey, however, is plopped squarely in the middle of the road.

That doesn’t mean it’s bad. In fact, I thought the bright blue tester had a masculine stance without attracting too much attention. I’d definitely pick another color for it, but besides that the overall look had a hint of elegance to it. That’s something new for Dodge. A few colleagues called the Journey’s styling “bland,” while one passerby literally stopped me to ask the name of the vehicle because he was so enamored with its look. That rarely happens to me, even when I’m in a flashier luxury sedan or sports car.

Performance The Journey is based on the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger platform. Neither one of those cars thrilled me in the performance department. I’m not talking smoky burnouts from stoplights, I’m talking going to the grocery store and dry cleaner. Even when equipped with the same 3.5-liter V-6 in the larger, heavier Journey I tested, those sedans seemed like they were rickety machines of a previous generation, not brand-spanking new. The Journey, however, feels quite solid when accelerating, and I didn’t mind having just 235 horsepower versus the more-powerful engines found in much of the competition.

The six-speed automatic transmission delivers fluid shifts, and a manual mode actually performs precise shifts for drivers inclined to do it themselves. The mileage with either engine is pretty much middle of the pack, so I’d give the Journey a passing grade there. The V-6 gets 16/23 mpg city/highway with FWD and 16/22 mpg with AWD. The four-cylinder, in FWD SE models only, returns 19/25 mpg. If an automaker gives folks relief on the MSRP, it’s less likely to offer any at the pump. Still, if there’s need for improvement, it’s in the mpg number.

Steering was also surprisingly pinpoint and intuitive. A comfortable ride and very little SUV lean also backed up this reassuring feeling behind the wheel. Again, I took a second to remind myself this was a Dodge with a low sticker price.

Then I hit the brakes and a squeal emanated in the vicinity of both fenders. The test car had more miles than most we see (around 7,000), but that’s still too new to have brake issues, and it isn’t the first Chrysler product I’ve tested with the same problem. If it were just a squeak with no resulting performance issue it could be overlooked. However, the pedal feel was mushy, and during bumper-to-bumper traffic, the car actually lurched under abrupt braking.

The Journey is a brand-new vehicle, and car companies have been known to make improvements for the second model year. I hope the engineers at Dodge take some time to improve the braking, because they’ve got one of the best-performing vehicles for its intended task (I’m not talking performance cars here) in a long time.

Seating, Cargo and Utility Even after a week of trying out the three rows of seats, Latch connectors, cargo-carrying ability and even the under-seat storage up front (check out the photos above), the Journey’s overall dimensions still throw me for a loop. I think if we just file the Journey into its own class of crossover we’ll be better off than trying to compare it to every model it can possibly compete with.

Because I only tested the model equipped with a third row, I can’t speak to the two-row edition. Dodge only lists one set of second-row legroom specifications, so it would seem that whether you get a two- or three-row version, the second row won’t be overwhelmingly roomy for passengers. Even though you can slide the second row forward and back, I found little relief for my knees in the rearmost setting. There was little thigh support, but the seatbacks do recline. However, since I seemed to have plenty of headroom, I’d gladly give up the reclining seat for more leg- and knee room.

Getting into the third row is very easy. The second row folds forward in an accordion style, like some competing models do. The handle can be easily pushed from the side or when sitting in the third row. I find the escape route from the third row vitally important, especially if you’re wedged back there as tightly as in the Journey. Granted, most of the vehicles this size, such as the Pilot and Highlander, don’t allow a lot of room for full-size adults. They’re made more for kids and tweens.

Folding the third row flat is also a simple task, especially when you’re behind the rear bumper. That’s when you’re going to want that additional space quickly — when you’ve got the shopping cart full of groceries and it might roll away if you walk around to the doors.

The second row also folds flat with the flip of a lever on the side of the seat, but that is much heavier to operate. Of course, you probably won’t need it as often, either.

There are some nifty storage compartments sprinkled around the cabin like secret hideaways. These will probably be highlighted with more importance than they’re worth by dealers. They’re neat, but they wouldn’t sway me in my final buying decision. Clearly the most useful of these are the two bins that rest under the floor of the second row. Each looks to be able to hold about a six-pack of beverages — hopefully the non-alcoholic kind. They kind of remind me of those smuggling bins aboard the Millennium Falcon.

Up front, there’s a storage bin under the passenger seat. I have no idea why this is needed, especially since you have to lift the seat cushion up to get to it. Which means, of course, no one can be sitting there when you open it. A lot of cars out there have a sliding drawer under the seat, and that makes more sense. Add to that the fact that having the bin there means there’s no sensor in the passenger seat that alerts the airbag system to deactivate when that seat is empty or there’s a small child present, which is a safety concern too. Not well executed.

Safety Besides that seeming safety blunder, the Journey comes with all of today’s required and soon-to-be required features, including stability control, front-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags, a tire pressure monitoring system and antilock brakes. Any new SUV or crossover today needs these items to be competitive.

The Journey has not yet been crash tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Dodge Journey in the Market Even after evaluating all the pros and cons, I’m still unsure how the Journey will perform in the real world of car shoppers. The low starting price will undoubtedly bring folks into dealerships. The large cabin, sizeable cargo room and high-quality controls will certainly impress shoppers. Inoffensive looks won’t turn anyone off. But what will get folks to sign on the dotted line? It’s the economy, stupid; a few thousand dollars is a more convincing argument than any performance indicator. And hey, there might even be an incentive or two out there.

What it boils down to is Dodge has delivered its best vehicle in some time, but if it weren’t for its competitive MSRP, folks might not notice.

Consumer reviews

• Comfort 4.2
• Interior 4.1
• Performance 3.8
• Exterior 4.3
• Reliability 3.6

Most recent consumer reviews

Most comfortable car i’ve owned..

Such a comfortable ride. Has plenty of legroom in front and back. Love that it has third row seating. It’s very spacious and drives smooth.

• Comfort 5.0
• Interior 5.0
• Performance 5.0
• Exterior 5.0
• Reliability 5.0
• Purchased a Used car
• Used for Transporting family
• Does recommend this car

Excellent vehicle for large family

I am a mother of 6, 5 boys 1 girl. Having 4 children in car seats. This vehicle accommodated my large family well. I had the fully loaded vehicle equipped with a tv/dvd player. So many compartments and storage spaces, perfect for a sports family.

I just bout this car in a auction called Chrysler’s yesterday and they said my vin had two recalls on it one from 2011 and one from 2015 one of the problems was the ignition wiring and the other had something to do with the driver side they told me to take it to the dealership where they will have to go it free of charge even stated it on my vin report as well

NHTSA crash test and rollover ratings (scores out of 5)

Have questions about warranties or CPO programs?

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All model years for the Dodge Journey

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• R/T 4dr All-Wheel Drive

R/T 4dr All-Wheel Drive 2009 Dodge Journey

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2009 Dodge Journey trims (5)

(SE) 4dr Front-Wheel Drive

(SXT) 4dr Front-Wheel Drive

(SXT) 4dr All-Wheel Drive

(R/T) 4dr Front-Wheel Drive

(R/T) 4dr All-Wheel Drive

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